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"SNORE! SNORE! SNORE!"
Dundee opened his eyes. "What was
that noise? Oh! Hee hee. It was only me snoring. Well, since I’m awake, I
might as well go outside and see what the weather’s like." The bear left
the cave and strolled through the woods. "I see it’s a wee bit foggy
today. Ah, but it’s a grand day." He took a deep breath. "I can smell the
loch." He felt his tummy rumbling. "Come to think of it, a fat trout
sounds rather delicious."
The water lapped against the muddy
banks of the loch. Dundee pushed bracken and fern out of the way as he
made his way down to the shore. A castle stood on an island in the middle
of the loch. He could barely make out its shape through the highland mist.
Nobody had lived in the abandoned castle for many years. "Is that a light
I see in the window? It almost looks like someone’s got a candle going in
there." The bear squinted. "I can’t see a thing in all this fog." He put
his toe into the water. "Och, that’s freezing. I’m not going to swim over
there."
Dundee scratched his head, trying to
think of why a light was in the castle. "What if it’s a ghost? Castles
have ghosts, especially old castles like this one."
"Who are you talking to?"
"Who said that?" Dundee asked. He
looked around but couldn’t see a thing.
"It’s me, Harry. Down here, by your
feet," the mouse squeaked.
"Harry? What brings you out on a day
like this?"
"I was feeling a wee bit hungry. Do
you always talk to yourself?" Harry giggled.
Dundee felt embarrassed. Trying to
change the subject he said, "Do you see the light in the castle window?"
"Yes. That’s odd though. Nobody
lives there any more," Harry answered.
"I think it’s a ghost."
"A ghost?" Harry looked carefully at
the castle. "It’s hard to tell with all this mist. I’ve got an idea.
There’s a strip of land that leads to the castle. We could walk over there
and peek in the window."
"Do you think we should? What if it
is a ghost?" Dundee asked.
"There’s only one way to find out.
Follow me." Harry ran through the ferns. Dundee followed. "Here it is.
Here’s the strip of land. It’s not too wide but you can do it."
"The water’s cold, Harry. It doesn’t
look that safe either," the bear complained.
"I think you’re afraid of the ghost.
Come on. Follow me." Harry ran toward the castle. When they reached the
door, Dundee pushed it open. "It’s upstairs." Harry climbed the stairs as
fast as his tiny legs allowed.
They’d reached the top of the stone
steps when suddenly bagpipes began to play. "SCREECH! BLARE! SCREECH!" The
two of them stopped.
"Bagpipes? A ghost that plays the
bagpipes?" Dundee gulped. "I don’t like this one bit, Harry. Let’s just
leave."
Harry didn’t reply. He ran into the
room. There stood a ghost, gazing out the window. It was dressed in a
tartan kilt and was blowing into the bagpipes. "Yikes!" Harry squealed.
"It is a ghost!" A candle sat on the
table. It was flickering as the cold wind blew through the castle’s halls.
The first thing Harry and Dundee noticed was that the ghost was a bear,
just like Dundee.
The ghost turned around. "And who
might you two be?" he asked.
Picture by
Donald McDade
"I’m Harry. This is Dundee."
"What are you doing in my castle?"
the ghost enquired.
"We saw the light in the window and
wondered who was in here. Who are you?" Harry questioned.
"My name’s Roderick McBear. I was
born in this castle, as were my ancestors before me."
"You look just like Dundee," Harry
said.
Dundee and the ghost looked at each
other. "That’s because I’m his great grandfather. After I was killed in
battle, the other McBears fled into the woods. I have stayed here since,
guarding what is rightfully mine."
"My great grandfather? You?" Dundee
asked.
"Why haven’t we seen or heard you
before now?" Harry wondered.
"I’ve been staying down in the
dungeon. For some reason tonight I felt the urge to come up to the top and
play my bagpipes. Now that Dundee is here, he can take over guarding the
castle and I can travel on," the ghost said.
"Me? I can’t play the bagpipes,"
Dundee laughed.
"Aye, you can. Here, try," the ghost
said, handing them to Dundee.
The bear put the bagpipes to his
mouth and began to blow. "SCREECH! BLARE! SCREECH!"
"You can play them," Harry chuckled.
"Take my kilt and my shoes and guard
the castle. You’re a McBear! It’s your job now," Roderick said and then
vanished.
Every night from then on, Dundee
stayed in the castle. Sometimes Harry brought other woodland animals over
to the island and they’d have a ceilidh. Dundee was happy that he didn’t
have to live in a cave any more and he was proud to be a McBear! |
